Southwest Books of the Year 2015: Vicki Ann Duraine's Picks

Vicki Ann Duraine is a librarian with the Pima County Public Library who supports regional literature and, when not reading, may be found horseback on Arizona trails. This list is brought to you by PCPL and Southwest Books of the Year.

Interest in the legends of the lawless West was on the wane in the early years of the 20th century, and had it not been for journalist Walter Noble Burns ...Show more
Interest in the legends of the lawless West was on the wane in the early years of the 20th century, and had it not been for journalist Walter Noble Burns the stories surrounding wild-west icons Wyatt Earp and William Bonney might have been lost to history. Dworkin ably captures the sentiment of the early twentieth century in this extensively researched work, and he provides a wealth of notes and backstory. In the end, the egos and antics of Burns and his peers are as fascinating as the lives of the outlaws.
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Interest in the legends of the lawless West was on the wane in the early years of the 20th century, and had it not been for journalist Walter Noble Burns ...Show more
Interest in the legends of the lawless West was on the wane in the early years of the 20th century, and had it not been for journalist Walter Noble Burns the stories surrounding wild-west icons Wyatt Earp and William Bonney might have been lost to history. Dworkin ably captures the sentiment of the early twentieth century in this extensively researched work, and he provides a wealth of notes and backstory. In the end, the egos and antics of Burns and his peers are as fascinating as the lives of the outlaws.
Show less

Founded in the late 1780’s, Chimayó is both a place of pilgrimage and a community of contradictions. The viejos live into their 90s and beyond, their fami...Show more
Founded in the late 1780’s, Chimayó is both a place of pilgrimage and a community of contradictions. The viejos live into their 90s and beyond, their family roots entangled and buried centuries deep. A travel publication recently declared Chimayó the “16th most picturesque village in the world.” At the same time, others call Arriba County the heroin capital of the Southwest, on par with a Third World country.
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Founded in the late 1780’s, Chimayó is both a place of pilgrimage and a community of contradictions. The viejos live into their 90s and beyond, their fami...Show more
Founded in the late 1780’s, Chimayó is both a place of pilgrimage and a community of contradictions. The viejos live into their 90s and beyond, their family roots entangled and buried centuries deep. A travel publication recently declared Chimayó the “16th most picturesque village in the world.” At the same time, others call Arriba County the heroin capital of the Southwest, on par with a Third World country.
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This stunning collection was created to celebrate the 1965 decision of five painters, made over cold beer at the Oak Creek Tavern in Sedona, AZ, to establ...Show more
This stunning collection was created to celebrate the 1965 decision of five painters, made over cold beer at the Oak Creek Tavern in Sedona, AZ, to establish the Cowboy Artists of America (CAA). In addition to maintaining the integrity of realistic western art, the organizers vowed to avoid the commercialism and pressure of galleries and instead staged shows on the trail or at cow camps, where the artists found inspiration. While the venues have evolved, CAA members continue to portray treasures of the trail that would make Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell proud. History is as deeply ingrained in this art as hide, hair and hard work.
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This stunning collection was created to celebrate the 1965 decision of five painters, made over cold beer at the Oak Creek Tavern in Sedona, AZ, to establ...Show more
This stunning collection was created to celebrate the 1965 decision of five painters, made over cold beer at the Oak Creek Tavern in Sedona, AZ, to establish the Cowboy Artists of America (CAA). In addition to maintaining the integrity of realistic western art, the organizers vowed to avoid the commercialism and pressure of galleries and instead staged shows on the trail or at cow camps, where the artists found inspiration. While the venues have evolved, CAA members continue to portray treasures of the trail that would make Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell proud. History is as deeply ingrained in this art as hide, hair and hard work.
Show less